Systems – Peak Productivity

Peak Productivity’s 2022 Review & 2023 Preview

elisabeth — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 18:21:22 +0000

There are countless ways to set goals, create an annual plan, and prepare yourself for a new year ahead. Most experts now agree that the best first step when planning for a new year (or quarter, or month) is to actually reflect on the past before planning for the future. I have been using this approach for a few years now, in my own life & business, and with my clients. The overwhelming feedback: this Review then Preview method is a winning approach!

One of my core values is to be the model for others and to always practice what I preach. On that note, here is my 2022 Review + my 2023 Preview as we say goodbye to the year and say Hello to the next 12 months ahead!

2022 Highlights

I had many new speaking opportunities both locally and virtually, including: 4 Cincinnati-based Vistage groups, a FL-based Gallagher Client Services team, Rotary Club of Cincinnati, Aviatra Accelerators, Southern Ohio Young Professionals group, USI Insurance Services…to name just a few!
I became a trainer for the University of Dayton’s Center for Leadership and now provide a full day time management workshop to leaders from many different businesses in the Dayton area and beyond (2022 included 7 full-day training dates.)
I began working with a marketing strategy coach and am extremely happy with my LinkedIn social media presence and messaging, and have begun to actually enjoy the marketing side of my business 🙂
I completed 1 half-marathon in the Spring, prior to patiently navigating a 5-month long leg injury which sidelined me completely from running….but I followed doctor’s orders and finally received clearance to get back to running!
I traveled to Mexico and North Carolina to co-facilitate 2 women’s business retreats alongside a good friend and fellow business coach.
I spent almost 4 weeks “away” from the business for travel & family time…and experienced only positive results from the downtime!
I had the privilege to support over 20 peak performers through individual coaching engagements, and completed 3 corporate engagements with teams ranging in size from 5-100+.

2023 Preview

Below are some of the exciting & motivating goals I have set for the year ahead:

I will train for and successfully complete a full marathon by the end of the year.
I will Increase revenue by $50K or more.
I will secure at minimum 1 keynote speaking opportunity at a conference/event that involves travel.
I will travel to New York City with my 3 best friends from college to see the city decorated for the Christmas holidays.
I will spend 1 day a month with my family for a “Family Outing” – we are building our list of 12 experiences now!
I will consistently meet with referral & collaboration partners monthly/quarterly, to strengthen these relationships and create more opportunities for business growth and partnership.
I will expand the corporate engagement / professional development programming side of my business by securing 3 or more corporate contracts by Q4.

Getting It Done

I hope that by sharing my Review + Preview process, it inspires you to take the time to complete your own version of the process and to set intentions for the new year. Please consider sharing with me your successes and lessons learned from the past year, as well as your audacious goals for the year ahead! And, if you need the support and guidance of a business productivity coach to take action on this process and the implementation into 2023, know that I am ready to fill that role for you.

Top Ten Reasons Every Business Needs a Playbook

Elisabeth Galperin — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:03:21 +0000

Anyone who is familiar with team sports is also familiar with the concept of a playbook. For those of you who aren’t, here is a simple definition:

playbook: a book or collection containing detailed descriptions of the plays that a player or team may run in games.

A playbook is essential to the success of a sports team, as it supports the overall strategy that the coaches and players are committed to implementing. A playbook is a proactive way for a team to increase its odds of winning throughout the entire season. The playbook tells each player what to do, when to do it, and informs what everyone else on the field or court will also be doing at that time. The plays are carried out consistently and become more efficient and effective as the season progresses. The playbook is truly one of the most important tools in sports, regardless of the game.

A Playbook in the Business World

In business, a playbook is equally as important. Traditionally it has been called the policy and procedure manual or the handbook. Ideally, regardless of what you call it, it serves the same purpose as a playbook. As a business productivity coach, I have worked with hundreds of businesses & entrepreneurs, and have seen both the good and bad when it comes to operating with, and without, documented processes and procedures.

Here is my list of the top 10 reasons every business needs a playbook!

A playbook clarifies the strategy of the business so that all team members are moving towards the same goals.
A playbook defines everyone’s individual roles and responsibilities to eliminate duplication of work or lack of ownership.
The playbook allows a business to be proactive versus reactive.
A playbook helps every individual see the value they bring to the team/business!
Onboarding new team members becomes more efficient and provides clarity from the start.
A playbook helps create the right balance between structure and creativity.
A playbook helps identify opportunities for automation and delegation, allowing the team to work smart, not always hard.
A playbook documents all systems, resulting in the potential to reduce mental load, free up time, overcome hurdles, and enhance progress.
A playbook ensures consistency in the customer/client experience, which is often more important than the quality of the service provided!
A playbook adds monetary value to the business, from an exit/succession planning perspective.

If your business is operating without a playbook, or has a stale and outdated version collecting dust on a shelf, there is no better time than now to create, refine, or revise your business playbook. Time to make it a winning season!

Don’t know where to start in crafting your playbook? Let’s schedule a time to chat so I can help set you on the path to success.

Advice to my [Disorganized] 10-Year-Old Self

Elisabeth Galperin — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 14:37:58 +0000

I am a Cincinnati native, and, therefore, a life-long Bengals football fan. The past few weeks have been really fun, rallying behind our underdogs and watching my city unite behind and believe in Joe Burrow and the young football team. It has also prompted a lot of “remember when” conversations with friends and family, taking me back to being a 10-year old. Some memories are more vivid than others. As I was walking down memory lane, one of the most vivid memories involved how disorganized I was and the lessons I learned from that phase of my life.

SUMMER EXPECTATIONS

The Summer of 1988 was poised to be EPIC:

My first year ever having a Kings Island pass (for those not familiar, “KI” is the local amusement park that is a 10 year old’s dream)
My parents were traveling for 2 weeks and leaving me with my best friend’s family for a majority of the time
I was turning 10 on July 10th…and getting a brand new 10-SPEED bike

I had a lot to look forward to and not a care in the world when the summer began.

Then, my brain took an unannounced vacation and almost ruined my summer.

SUMMERTIME BLUES

That summer actually did include a lot of happy memories. But, the ones that stuck out the most were those involving me constantly losing things, forgetting things, and disappointing myself and others.

I lost my Kings Island pass almost as quickly as I got it and the $40 replacement fee was not something my parents were willing to cover.
I lost my brand new, white leather K-Swiss tennis shoes at swim practice and, again, my parents were less than happy with this news nor were they willing to trust me with another pair.
I spent the summer being forgetful and disorganized; I could not keep track of my belongings, and I was not living up to my own expectations, nor those of my parents (or my teachers come fall).

As they say, it is our failures from which we learn the most important lessons, and I certainly learned the value of organization and its impact on self-confidence that year.

This was my first, first-hand experience with the negative consequences of being disorganized, unproductive, and not having a plan for how to manage my belongings nor my time. The lessons hit hard, but it also was one of the most significant phases of my childhood. And I truly believe these early lessons contributed to where I am today in life and in my career.

So, what advice would I give to my 10-year-old self looking back with my current day knowledge?

Have a place for everything…and put everything in its place (no matter how much of a hurry you are in).
Give valuable belongings and information the time and attention they deserve, and take full responsibility for how they are used and where they are kept (and tell someone you trust your plan, as a backup!)
Be honest with others when you forget about a task or lose something…trying to hide the truth never works and open communication is always the best solution. (A few weeks of being grounded helped me understand this lesson!)
Daily routines are a simple solution. From packing your (pool) bag to completing your (home) work, following the plan almost always ensures getting things done the right way and on time.

The problems of a 10-year-old might seem insignificant to us now, as adults and business owners, but I bet if you looked back you could identify some crucial moments in your life as a kid that provided valuable life lessons that still impact you to this day.

What lessons did you learn as a 10-year-old, about productivity, organization, or something else you now apply in your work and adult life?
What advice would you give your 10-year old self, if you had the chance?
What advice would you give yourself today? After all, we are always a work in progress and always ripe for improvement and learning.

Oh, and, GO BENGALS!

The Gift of Creating a Plan

Elisabeth Galperin — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:40:12 +0000

It will likely come as no shock to you that I AM A PLANNER. Always have been, always will be. I remember back in middle school, how much I loved the school planner that was given to us at the beginning of each school year. I would spend hours figuring out my highlighter color-coding for the year, the star and smiley-face symbols I would use to indicate incomplete vs complete assignments, and the ways I would schedule study time for tests vs. time blocks for completing homework. And, of course, the way I would check off the boxes every time I completed a task. Even back then, there was such satisfaction from a check mark!!

Can anyone relate or am I the only calendar nerd among us?

Fast forward to life as a professional and business owner; I still believe that planning is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves. And, I believe that to be true for planners and non-planner alike. Hear me out.

The most common frustration I hear from clients, business connections, and friends these days is the feeling of being overwhelmed. Take a moment and ask yourself, when did you use that word last? How many times a day do you tell yourself, “I am so overwhelmed!”

Why are you feeling so overwhelmed, so often? What I have observed in many instances is that not only do we ask ourselves to do too much, we approach the workload without any real strategy. It’s the reactive mode of operation about which I speak quite often.

Is it logical? You be the judge.

If I gave you 500 pieces to a puzzle, without the full, completed image, and told you to put them together, would you feel overwhelmed? Of course you would!

If I asked you to pack the trunk of a tiny sports car with 10 large suitcases, would you be able to fit them inside successfully? Of course you wouldn’t!

These examples are basically what you are asking of yourself when you begin a work week, a project, or a business quarter, without a clear, documented plan in place.

It’s as if you have hundreds of puzzle pieces, without the frame.

It’s like having a project assigned to you, without knowing the defined constraints or limits within to work.

——————-

Overwhelmed is defined as “completely overcome in mind or feeling.” It is a mental state, much more often than it is a physical reality. I know that might hurt to hear, but can you see the truth in the matter?

As you wind down for the year, and dream big things for the new year approaching, be sure you are giving yourself the time to make some plans for 2022.

Make sure you aren’t expecting yourself to fit an elephant into a porsche.

Promise you won’t leave for your cross-country joyride without a roadmap.

Give yourself the gift of a proactive plan for how you will accomplish your goals and fulfill your plans in 2022. And be sure to keep giving yourself time throughout the year for planning and pivoting. Detours happen and targets often move.

And, if you need help making the plan look as colorful and cute as my middle school planner, you know where to find me. I’ll be armed and ready with my highlighters!

Accountability as a Tool with Team and Clients

elisabeth — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 20:27:29 +0000

Business Owners & Leaders: What are your go-to tools for connecting with and motivating team members and clients? What tried-and-true strategies have you found to work throughout the different stages of your business and your career? Is accountability on your short list? If not, this article is definitely for you.

Regardless of your leadership style or the number of individuals you are leading, accountability can be a vital tool in your toolbox. The people you lead – clients, colleagues, even family members – likely come to the table with a mixed bag of experiences and opinions of accountability. Some see it positively and are inspired by it; others have a negative connotation and are intimidated by the concept. Some people have grown because of accountability; others have been stagnated by it.

The truth is, accountability has the potential to be a real game-changer in professional relationships and can become a pillar of the culture you create and the impact you and your business make.

Accountability & Culture

Accountability is equal parts goal-setting and action-taking. It’s about celebrating the wins and giving support through defeats. A study from the American Society for Training and Development found that you have a 65% chance of achieving a goal if you commit to someone, and if you establish ongoing meetings with that someone, the odds increase to 95%! Clearly, social influence is a powerful motivational tool, and science exists to back this up. Creating social comparisons and social commitments with others ups our game and keeps us committed all the way through to completion.

There are four essential things to think about as you are developing accountability with your clients and team members.

It Begins Day One: It is extremely important that you discuss and define accountability from the very beginning. Be sure you are frequently talking about how accountability is going to be a part of the working relationship. For example, with a new hire, weave this concept into the onboarding process and explain how accountability is part of the positive culture of your business. With new clients, give explicit examples of how accountability is a core value of your company/team, and how it will be beneficial to the client in reaching their goals.

Consistency Counts: Another extremely important factor is consistency. You can have the best laid plans; You can talk about how frequently you’re going to check in and how you’re going to motivate and inspire, and you can map it all out beautifully on paper or in a project management tool. But, if you are not showing up consistently, as promised and as planned, you will quickly lose the trust and buy-in from others. If you are not consistent, you will send the message that the project – or the person- is not a priority and that you are not equally invested. So, be all in! Do whatever it takes to make sure that you are checking in at the same time and in the same way, asking the right questions and following the agreed upon plan.

Work on the Why: Your reason for providing accountability is critical. If you implement accountability check-ins or partnership simply because the research says to do so, you will not get the results you seek. You must go a layer deeper; you need to get clear on your why, and help others find their “why” as well. Take the time needed to identify the specific goals and the outcomes that accountability will lead to for everyone.

Give and Receive: Be sure there are benefits for all parties involved. Are you growing as a leader? Developing new skills? Becoming a better listener? Learning to be consistent? Improving communication skills? “What’s in it for me” is not a selfish question to ask when providing accountability. If you are asking team members and clients to look to you as their accountability partner, I also encourage you to make sure you are walking your talk; that you have others holding you accountable. Ultimately, accountability is something you build into your life, into your lifestyle, into your business, into your personal growth and development. When you walk your talk as an owner and leader, you begin to demonstrate the value in a whole new way, making a greater impact upon all.

Leaders & Accountability

Becoming a leader who values and utilizes accountability takes time and takes practice. Yet I am confident it will become your go-to strategy as you build your business, grow your team, and impact the lives of your clients.

If this sounds great in theory, yet feels overwhelming in terms of how to get started and where to turn for help, then you are in luck! This is my jam, my passion, my expertise and is why I love my business… to help business owners and leaders just like you. Reach out for an initial (complimentary) consultation and let’s build a plan together that feels authentic and achievable. And, yes, I will serve as your accountability partner all the way through to implementation and success!